James Holmes sits in Arapahoe County District Court in Denver

James Holmes sits in Arapahoe County District Court in Denver, Colorado on February 11, 2015, in this courtroom sketch. Lawyers in the murder trial of Colorado theater gunman Holmes are set to begin individual questioning of prospective jurors in the death-penalty case on Wednesday, a process scheduled to take four months to complete. REUTERS/Bill Robles (UNITED STATES - Tags: CRIME LAW) NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Colorado theater shooting

Prospective jurors in the Colorado theater shooting case were being questioned Wednesday about their views on the death penalty and mental illness as the second phase of jury selection began.

In the months ahead, the judge and lawyers on both sides are expected to question hundreds of people who were not excused after filling out lengthy questionnaires.

The first person questioned — a woman who appeared to be in her 20s — expressed some reservations about the death penalty but said she could keep an open mind. She was asked to return for the next round of selection.